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Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery is a well-described phenomenon, usually associated with hemodynamic changes ultimately leading to ischemic injury to the kidneys. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of AKI in a cohort of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery at a single center., Methods: Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and/or valve repair) between the years 2016 and 2022 were retrospectively included in the study., Results: During the study, 167 patients underwent CABG, valve replacement, or both procedures. The majority were male (85.0%). Post-operative AKI was observed in 27.5% of patients, with 2.4% requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)/dialysis. The majority of AKI cases were staged as Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 1. Among patients needing CRRT/dialysis, 1.8% recovered renal function within 3 months, with 0.6% experiencing 30-day mortality. In univariate analysis, factors associated with AKI included older age (P = 0.003), severe anemia (P < 0.0001), pre-operative creatinine elevation (P < 0.0001), complex surgeries (P < 0.0001), blood product transfusion (P < 0.0001), longer cross-clamp (XC) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times (P < 0.0001), and inotropes usage (P < 0.0001). Classical risk factors like diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension did not show significant differences. The majority of these factors (severe anemia, age, pre-operative creatinine, post-operative inotrope usage, and cross-clamp times) were consistently significant (P < 0.05) in logistic regression analysis., Conclusion: Post-operative AKI following cardiac surgery is frequent, with significant associations seen especially with pre-operative anemia. Future investigations focusing on the specific causes of anemia linked to AKI development are essential, considering the high prevalence of hemoglobinopathy traits in our population., Competing Interests: None to declare., (Copyright 2024, Mohrag et al.)

Background: Hydrophilic polymer gel coatings are used on different intravascular devices to prevent vasospasm and thrombosis. However, it may become dislodged from these devices, leading to ischaemic complications in various organs including the skin, kidneys, brain, heart or lungs. Hydrophilic polymer embolisation (HPE) is a rare complication following endovascular procedures that is currently not fully recognised. The current knowledge of this phenomenon is based on reports consisting of histologic evidence of foreign polymers in the affected organ., Case Description: A 76-year-old male with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, renal cell carcinoma and chronic kidney disease underwent endovascular stenting of the superficial femoral artery due to critical limb ischaemia of the right foot. The patient had an acute kidney injury following the procedure. Upon examining the legs, there were tender non-blanching macular lesions on the right lower limb. A skin biopsy of the lesion was performed and showed hydrophilic polymer embolisation. Unfortunately, a few weeks later the patient was readmitted due to a worsening of the right foot wound situation, which required below-knee amputation., Conclusion: HPE is a rarely reported complication after endovascular interventions, with the potential to embolise to multiple organs. By observing skin manifestations, it is possible to aid the early detection of ischaemic events in other organs and identify their underlying causes. Generally speaking, the course is benign and self-limiting when the skin is involved, but may be more sinister especially when other organs (e.g. brain) are involved., Learning Points: Meticulous skin examination is an essential part of the diagnostic armamentarium of an internist, aiding in formulating a differential diagnosis based on such findings.Hydrophilic polymer embolisation (HPE) is a rarely reported complication after endovascular procedures.Given the potentially attenuated histological findings of HPE, history details of recent endovascular intervention are key to the diagnosis., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interests: The Authors declare that there are no competing interests., (© EFIM 2023.)

Objective: Drug eluting stents (DES) might improve the results of stenting in the femoropopliteal (FP) segment, but randomized data between DES and BMS in the treatment of patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) is lacking. The aim of this study was to perform a randomized comparison, between DES and bare metal stent (BMS) implantation in a subgroup of CLTI patients with lesions in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the P1-P2 portion of the popliteal artery., Methods: Patients presenting with CLTI scheduled for endovascular treatment of FP lesions were randomly assigned by blinded envelopes 1:1 in a single blinded, parallel group design to DES or BMS after lesion crossing. Primary endpoints were target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 and 24 months and primary patency at 12 and 24 months. Secondary endpoints were technical success (TS), clinical success, secondary patency at 12 and 24 months, limb salvage, serious adverse events (SAE) at 24 month and survival at five years., Results: A total of 48 CLTI patients and 49 limbs, were enrolled, 22 in the BMS group and 27 in the DES group. Demographics, comorbidities, and Rutherford class were similar in both treatment arms. The overall rate of total occlusions was 96% and the corresponding overall median lesion length was 240 mm. No patients were lost to follow up. No significant differences were detected between groups regarding TLR and primary patency. The overall primary patency at 12 and 24 months was 42.9% and 36.7% respectively and the overall freedom from TLR was 67.3% and 61.2% respectively. The results in the two groups were also similar regarding secondary outcomes., Conclusions: This single centre, randomized study could not demonstrate superiority of DES compared to BMS when treating long FP lesions in patients with CLTI but was limited by insufficient patient inclusion.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of angioplasty using drug-eluting balloons (DEB) compared with plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) to reduce the rate of restenosis., Methods: This prospective, single-centre, single-blinded, 1:1 randomized, clinical trial enrolled patients that had primary or restenotic lesions in native upper extremity arteriovenous (AV) fistulas or at the graft-venous anastomosis. Patients were randomized to angioplasty with a POBA or a DEB. The primary effectiveness endpoints were freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) and functional status of access circuit at 12 months., Results: A total of 42 (28 male, 14 female; age range, 42-83 years) patients were enrolled. Patients were followed for 12 months. No significant differences were detected between the POBA and DEB groups regarding total number of TLR procedures (31 versus 36, respectively), freedom from TLR (3 versus 4, respectively) and functional status of the access circuit at 12 months (14 of 20 patients [70%] versus 17 of 22 patients [77%], respectively)., Conclusion: This clinical trial did not demonstrate any significant differences between DEB angioplasty and standard balloon angioplasty when treating dysfunctional haemodialysis access.

Background: The optimal imaging follow-up after infrarenal EVAR is still undefined. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of a personalized follow-up program after infrarenal EVAR based on ultrasound AAA diameter measurements for low-risk patients., Methods: All consecutive patients followed-up locally after elective and acute infrarenal EVAR between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent CTA at 1-month post-EVAR whereby the attending surgeon defined the subsequent follow-up. Patients considered at low risk were followed with ultrasound only assessing AAA diameter at 1, 2, 3 and every 5 years postoperatively (group A). Low risk required a favorable pre-operative anatomy especially regarding the aneurysm neck, satisfactory intraoperative result and uneventful 1 month CTA (type 2 endoleaks acceptable). Patients not fulfilling the criteria for group A were followed with yearly 3-phase-CTAs (group B)., Results: Two hundred twenty-two patients with a AAA median diameter of 58 (54-68) mm were included. One hundred ninety-one were allocated into group A and 31 in group B. Median follow-up time was 36 (24-59) months. Five-year primary and primary-assisted success was 82±5% and 93±3% for group A and 70±13% and 93±5% for group B, respectively (P=0.042 and P=0.504, respectively). Sixteen late aneurysm-related reinterventions were performed in 12 patients (7 in group A and 9 in group B). In group A, 5 reinterventions were rupture-preventing and 2 were symptomatic. All late reinterventions in group B were performed following findings on follow-up imaging. Five-year late reintervention-free survival was 95±2% and 84±7% for groups A and B, respectively (P=0.046). Five-year survival was 80±3% and 63±10% for group A and B, respectively (P=0.024)., Conclusions: A customized follow-up program after infrarenal EVAR based on ultrasound AAA diameter measurements in low-risk patients seems to be effective in maintaining a very high mid-term clinical success rate.

Objective: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been extensively study regarding elective and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. However, much less is known about EVAR of symptomatic nonruptured AAA, especially concerning the long-term results. The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of EVAR of symptomatic AAA compared with asymptomatic AAA at a tertiary center using a single graft., Methods: All consecutive patients treated for symptomatic and asymptomatic AAAs from 1998 to 2012 at our institution, using the Cook Zenith stent graft (Cook Europe A/S, Bjaeverskov, Denmark), were included in the study. Ruptured AAAs were excluded. Patients' charts were reviewed to obtain preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data. All available imaging was reviewed. Life tables were constructed to assess for overall and late AAA-related survival, clinical success, and endoleak freedom., Results: There were 680 patients included (137 symptomatic AAAs). No difference in technical success rate (96.1% for asymptomatic AAAs vs 94.9% for symptomatic AAAs) was present (P = .477). Thirty-day mortality was more common in symptomatic AAAs (6.6% vs 1.5% for asymptomatic AAAs; P = .002). Freedom from reinterventions was 72% ± 3% for asymptomatic AAAs vs 73% ± 5% for symptomatic AAAs (P = .785) at 10 years postoperatively. There was no difference in primary (P = .300) or secondary (P = .099) clinical success between groups, although there was higher assisted clinical success (P = .023) for asymptomatic AAAs compared with symptomatic AAAs. Persistent late clinical failure was similar in both groups (14.2% for asymptomatic AAAs vs 15.3% for symptomatic AAAs; P = .732). Freedom from late AAA-related death was higher (P = .016) for asymptomatic AAAs compared with symptomatic AAAs, but the differences disappeared when the first 30 days were disregarded. Overall survival (P = .687) was similar in both groups. An adequate aneurysm neck preoperatively conferred a better outcome in end points including overall survival., Conclusions: Symptomatic AAAs have an almost quadrupled 30-day mortality compared with asymptomatic AAAs, but the outcome differences fade in the long term. An adequate aneurysm neck was associated with better outcomes including overall survival independent of the initial presentation of the AAA. These results suggest the need of improving the identification of symptomatic patients requiring preoperative medical optimization. However, this is often limited by the acute need of the procedure, and more intensive postoperative monitoring may have greater potential. Independently, a strict anatomic selection for infrarenal EVAR is of paramount importance for the long-term outcome., (Copyright © 2020 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm is associated with an increased mortality, mostly cardiovascular events. Moreover, aortoiliac calcification is associated with increased mortality in patients with peripheral occlusive disease. The aim of this study is to assess the potential association between iliofemoral calcification, assessed by calcium score, in patients undergoing infrarenal (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]) or fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR) and long-term mortality, particularly caused by cardiac events., Methods: All patients with preoperative noncontrast-enhanced computed tomographic scans who underwent infrarenal EVAR and FEVAR of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm between 2004 and 2012 at a single tertiary center were screened for inclusion. Agatston calcium score was measured from the aortic bifurcation to common femoral arteries using a dedicated postprocessing software. The values are presented as median and interquartile range., Results: About 404 (62.05%) of 651 patients who underwent EVAR and FEVAR had sufficient imaging quality to be included. There was no difference in survival between included and excluded patients (P = 0.33). Nine patients (2.2%) died within 30 days of the operation, whereas the remaining were followed up for 6.3 (4.7-8.4) years. The iliofemoral calcium score was 8348 (3830-14,179). Estimated overall survival at 5 years was 73 ± 2%. Patients within the lowest quartile of iliofemoral calcium score had significantly higher overall survival (5 years: 79 ± 4% vs. 71 ± 3%; P = 0.01) and cardiac event-free survival (5 years: 95 ± 2% vs. 91 ± 2%; P = 0.033) when compared with the remaining ones. Calcium score was associated with neither univariate regression analysis with survival (odds ratio, 1.016 [0.988-1.045]; P = 0.268) nor cardiac event-free survival (odds ratio, 1.024 [0.986-1.063]; P = 0.222)., Conclusions: Low iliofemoral calcium score may be associated with lower incidence of fatal cardiac events and all-cause long-term mortality after EVAR and FEVAR. This may be partially a reflection of aging and cardiovascular comorbidity but needs to be studied further., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the long-term results of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair with a single stent graft system., Methods: Patients undergoing elective, infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a single-stent graft system between 1998 and 2012 were analyzed retrospectively registering pre-, intra-, and postoperative data. All imaging was reviewed. Data are presented as median and interquartile range unless otherwise stated., Results: A total of 543 patients were included (476 males; 74 [69-79] years). Technical success was achieved in 522 (96.1%) patients. Eight (1.5%) patients died perioperatively. Median imaging follow-up was 5.0 (2.8-8.0) years. Freedom from reinterventions was 72 ± 3% at 10 years. Primary and secondary clinical success rates were 58 ± 3% and 78 ± 2% at 10 years, respectively. Freedom from late AAA-related death was 96 ± 1% and overall survival was 32 ± 2% at 10 years. Late persistent secondary clinical failure occurred in 77 (14.2%) patients. Most of the patients with late failures did not undergo reinterventions (83.1%) because they were unfit (39 patients), refused (5 patients), or had stable mild findings (20 patients). Five patients were converted to open repair (most recent, 2008). Favorable neck anatomy was more common in the second half of the study and was associated with less proximal intraoperative adjuncts. Importantly, it also conferred higher primary and secondary clinical success (P = .001 and P < .0001) and primary and assisted freedom from type I/III endoleaks (P = .002 and P < .0001); along with lower AAA-related mortality rates (P = .008)., Conclusions: Elective infrarenal EVAR of asymptomatic AAA with single-stent graft has sustainable long-term results, especially when the aneurysm neck anatomy is favorable. AAA-related death and conversion to open repair are very rare events, but the overall survival after 10 years is quite low. The majority of the patients with persistent failure were unfit or refused further reinterventions or had stable findings. Good patient selection and technical developments may continue to improve the results in the future., (Copyright © 2019 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the midterm result of in situ fenestration (ISF) of the left subclavian artery (LSA) during thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR)., Methods: In this clinical study, between 2014 and 2016, ISF for LSA revascularization was attempted during TEVAR in 10 patients (7 males; median age, 68 years). An excimer laser, placed from the left brachial artery, was used to create a fenestration and all fenestrations were stented with covered stent grafts. Follow-up included computed tomography scans 1 month postoperatively and annually thereafter. Survival was analyzed according to Kaplan-Meier., Results: Nine of the 10 laser-assisted ISF were successful. No 30-day mortality occurred. One patient had a transient ischemic attacked in the left carotid territory. After a median follow-up of 27 months, all fenestrations were patent. At 1 month, computed tomography follow-up showed nonspecific endoleaks of unknown origin in five of the nine patients. At 27 months follow-up, only two endoleaks remained. One reintervention was done after 24 months owing to a type Ic endoleak from the LSA. Overall TEVAR success, defined as survival with no aneurysm expansion, was eight of nine. One patient showed aneurysm expansion after 14 months. Two deaths occurred (at 33 and 31 months postoperative), one of unknown reason and one aneurysm related., Conclusions: Laser fenestration might be an option for LSA revascularization during emergent or semiurgent TEVAR and electively in patients with hostile neck anatomy (eg, previous neck radiation, short and adipose necks) that might make a carotid-subclavian bypass difficult. The LSA fenestration has excellent patency and TEVAR success was not affected by nonspecific endoleaks around the LSA., (Copyright © 2018 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)